Apparatus for coding and decoding



June 30, 1936.

M. C. M M. OBRIEN APPARATUS FOR CODING AND DECODING Filed March 30, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l June 30, 1936. M. c. M M. OBRIEN 2,045,276

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APPARATUS FOR CODING AND DECODING 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed March 30, 1929 Fig. 9.

Patented June 30, 1936 2,046,276 APPARATUS FOR CODING AND DECODING Morgan Cyprian McMahon O'Brien, Chelsea,

.London, England Application March 30, 1929, Serial No. 351,403 In Great Britain April 4, 1928 21 Claims. (Cl. 197-4) This invention relates to means or apparatus for coding and decoding messages.

The invention consists in improved means or. apparatus for automatically producing printed or 5 typed messages and the like in cyphered form and for automatically decyphering same; The said means or apparatus comprise a machine of such character that the secrecy of the cypher is not endangered if unauthorized or hostile persons 10 intercept the message and have possession or access to an indentical machine to assist them in their efforts to decypher same.

The machine is fitted with a single keyboard and is adapted to, produce simultaneously the 15 copy of the message in its original form and a cyphered "version of same.

Means are provided to type the address and message setting or key-word. in clear type at the commencement of the cyphered version. The

setting means comprise sets of setting dials, the operation of either of which produces a radical variation of the cypher, and each of which reacts continuously on the other throughout the operation of the machine.

25 Features of the machine are carriages each of which is fitted with paper, ink ribbon and a striker or hammer and means for controlling the operation of same, one carriage being stationary and the other adapted to move, in a controlled man- -30 ner, along the line of a shaft with multiple typewheels.

Two of these type-wheels are so fitted that their indicia bear a constant relationship to the corresponding indicia of the keys of the key- -3 board and are referred. tohereinafter as fixed alphabets. The remaining alphabets are adapt- 7 ed to be scattered by gapped toothed wheels hereinafter referred to as scatter wheels, so

that their relationship to the indicia of the fixed 49 alphabets and key-board is constantly varying through the operation'of typing the message upon the machine.

The scatter wheels are adapted to be set initially by hand in accordance with both sets of setting dials and are thereafter actuated by the movement of the movable carriage throughout typing. The scatter wheels may be described as the? prime mover in the matter of producing the cypher, but it is to be noted they are not the 50 sole mover in this respect, but that they react directly themselves and indirectly through other members in a continuous manner throughout the operation of the machine. I

Means are provided to adequately control the 55 presence of vowels in the cypher groups.

Automatic means for locking and unlocking, engaging and disengaging and registering movements are embodied in the machine; and revolution counter mechanism is also fitted.

Such is broadly the nature of the invention, and I hereunder describe in detail, one embodiment of same as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in so far as appears necessary for the complete understanding of the same.

Fig. 1 is a cross section of the machine, see Fig. '7, showing movable carriage and certain of the scatter wheels, revolving rack wheels, typewheels, intermediate wheels and other inter-related parts.

Fig. 2 is a part sectional front view, but carriage and operating keys are not shown.

Fig. 3 is a partly sectional rear end view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing setting dials and gears at both ends of the machine and chain control for the movable carriage, and clutch control device.

Fig. 5 is a part sectional side elevation showing portions of scatter wheels, type-wheels and other related parts, but the rack wheel device is not shown in this figure.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation showing revolving rack and intermediate wheels, but scatter wheels are omitted.

Fig. 6a is an enlarged view of a type-wheel and its gear wheel. Fig. 7 is a perspective, general view of machine, with cover omitted, embodying the above parts.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the stationary carriage, shown detached for clearness'.

Fig. 915 a detail of the tripping elements which function to hold and release the rocker-frame.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of paper strip and inkribbon' feed device and printing mechanism in relation to type-wheels.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of pawl and releasing levers.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing relative positions of the two carriages and parts on the frame,

Fig. 13 is a detail view of pawl and rack wheel device governing the step-by-step movement of the carriage, and

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the control connection between the shafts 24 and 24'.

Referring to the drawings l is the frame of the machine in which 2 are cross-members to support bearings for shafts carrying revolving members, and are fitted at the front and rear ends of frame I. 3 is the movable carriage fitted with striker 4 and cam 5 at its rear, paper feed-cont'rol 6, ink ribbon drums 1, ink ribbon feed-control 8, bearings 9, cam 5 actuating feed-control 6 and ink ribbon feed-control 8 rocking lever to provided' with roller ll) which actuates pawl l l 'of ink ribbon feed-control 8, also pawl l2 of the paper feed-contr] 6, and an actuating hand lever I3, which controls the engagement and disengagement of scatter wheels 39, as later described.

' Movable carriage 3 is slotted or open in part to permit hammer 4 and rocking lever Ill to be fitted and actuated and also permit ink ribbon and paper to pass under hammer 6 and be struck by the same when typing is proceeding. The carriage 3 is also fitted with pawl l5, which governs its travel through typing as later described and said carriage is adapted at one side to travel in continuous guide l5 and also to be guided by continuous round shaft l6 and continuous-square shaft ll. It is also fitted with engaging lug 88 which is adapted to control the movement of a travelling selector wheel as described later. The

fixed carriage shown in Fig. 8 is located at the end of the machine nearest the keyboard and is fitted similarly to movable carriage 3, except that guiding members, engaging lug l8 and actuating lever l3, are not embodied.

To provide for the arrangement of the series of type-wheels in their co-operative relation, the machine embodies a plurality of shafts 56, ii, iii, 20, 2E and 22 which are continuous throughout the length of the machine, their bearings being housed in the cross members 2. Shafts i6, 20, 2! and 22 are stationary and carry members adapted to revolve. Shaft l9 carries a series of revolving rack wheels and revolves in a controlled manner. Shaft H is an oscillating member actuating hammer 4 and cam 5 on movable carriage and stationary carriage. A stationary shaft 23 is carried by and is continuous throughout'the length of rocker-frame 26. Shaft 25 is supported in rocker-frame 26 but projects beyond same at the front of the machine and shaft 26 is similarly supported but projects at both ends of the machine and is revolvable and slidable in the direction of its length. Shaft 25 is oscillatable and rocker-frame26 is pivoted about fixed shaft 22 and is of a shape or formation adapted by its pivoted action to allow for bringing the toothed members carried by the shafts i9, 23, 2E and 26 into or out of gear.

Each revolving rack wheel 27 is fitted with substantial teeth 23 and gaps 29 and with gear wheel 30. Shaft i9 is fitted with locking member 3i. Shaft 26 is fitted with a series of type-wheels 32 and gear wheels 33 and the shaft 2! is fitted with intermediate wheels 36 and registering pawls 35. Shaft 25 is fitted with travelling selector wheel 36, Fig. 5, and fixed gear wheel 88 (Fig. 2) which rotates the shaft under the action of the keys. The

function of the selector wheel 36 is to engage successive type-wheels and set them for typing. Shaft 23 is fitted with intermediate gear wheels 31 which are adapted to gear with wheels 30 when the rocker-frame 26 lifts and each wheel 31 is also fitted with a co-operating registering detent spring lever 38 anchored to the rocker-frame. Shaft 24 is fitted with scatter wheels 39 which have irregularly spaced teeth on their peripheries and are fitted with three-faced cams 40 of which a, b, c, are the three faces and a complete internal gear 4! fixed to the inside wall of the scatter wheel 39. Shaft 24 is also fitted with dogs 42 adapted to engage in internal gears M. A slotted member 43 consisting of connected plat'es arranged apart is-designed to give support at each it when it is struck by pawl l4 in arresting the movement of carriage 3. g p

44 (Fig. 2) is a universal bar actuated by and conmion to the key levers 45 (Fig. 5). 66 (Figs. 2 and 5) is also a common bar actuated by cam face 41 on each key lever 45. 48 is an oscillating member pivoting in bearings 49 and carrying slotted block member 50 which travels to and fro along spiral member 5i causing the revolution of gear'wheel 52 which is fitted to one end of spiral member 5! and meshes with the wheel 33 on shaft 20. The other end of spiral member 5| is fitted in bearings 53 carried by supporting member 56. Shaft 25 is fitted with gear wheel 55 at the front end of the machine and with gear wheel 55 (Fig. 3) at rear end of the machine, and has a grooved drive (Fig. 5) adapted to be actuated by gear wheel 51 supported on shaft 58 and operated by a controlling fitted on the side of the machine. It is also fitted with operating knob 59. The knob 53 is for imparting rotary movement to shaft 26, and gear wheel 57 is for imparting longitudinal movement N by engagement with the grooved part 56 of the shaft 26. By operating the handle 58 in relation 63 (Fig. 2) and 63 (Figs. 3 and 4) are setting dials each consisting of five dials bearing indicia on their periphery and each dial is fittedwith a gear wheel 64, 66 adapted to engage with gear wheels 55, 55 relation therewith. Setting dials 63, 63 are individually free to revolve on their respective shafts65, 65 which are mounted in their respective brackets 66, 66.

61 (Fig. 2) is a cam fitted on shaft H which actuates hammer 6 and cam 5, and 68 is a spring attached to cam 61 at one of its ends and to a pin 69 on the frame at the other end. Trip lever 16 revolves on shaft H when actuated by spring 12 after cam 73 of'multiple cam rod 14 has cleared it on the lifting of the rod. Cam l5 re-tensions spring 68 when cam rod 76 returns or lowers and spring 72 returns trip lever to engagement with the 6! locked but under the tension of spring 68. The next upward movement of multiple cam rod 76 trips cam 61 and oscillates cam shaft ll thus operating hammer 4. and cam 5. Cam 16 on the rod operates pawl Tl which governs the 'movement of ratchet wheel 18 which is fitted to shaft I 9. Cam rod 74 is actuated by common bar 44 which in its turn is operated by key lever 45.

Figs. 3 and 4 show the transmission movement from movable carriage 3 to shaft 26. Chain 80 is attached to movable carriage 3 at one end and is further. attached to a spring driven drum 8! at the other end and is engaged with sprocket wheel l8 throughout its movement. When shaft 19 is revolved by the manual action of returning the carriage 3 to the front of the machine, continuous toothed wheel82 fitted to the shaft 24 is revolved to rotate the scatter-wheels and coacting parts to effect a re-distribution of the cam 51 leaving cam handle 58, shown in Fig. 7

when the latter are movedinto one scatter wheel same by bevel wheels 83 and 84 and gear wheel 85, mounted with bevel wheel 84 on shaft 89.

A clutch device may be employed at the rear of the machine actuated by a pivoted and man ually operated control to release shaft 24 so that it can have a slidable action when required. That is done as shown in Fig. 11 by arranging the wheel 84 and pinion 85, so that they are slidably keyed together and do not revolve independently, and providing the shaft 86 with a.

pivoted forked lever 86, adapted, when operated by a cam 86 acting on the runner 86 of the lever, to move the wheel 84-and pinion 85 into or out of gear with their complementary wheels.

As shown in Fig. 5 scatter-wheels 39 are arranged in groups or blocks of six mounted on shaft 24 and. each block or group is secured thereto or controlled thereon by dog 42 (only one is shown) held by set-screw 42 and adapted on the forward sliding movement of the shaft 24 to engage internal gear 4|, each block being capable of independent revolvable movement when not so locked to shaft 24 by dog 42 engaging internal gear 4|. The machine is fitted with 39 and all necessary intermediates for each type-wheel 32 which is adapted to co-act with the scatter-wheels to produce the cypher, but the two type-wheels 32 and 32 are free from the action of scatter wheels 39.

The stationary carriage in Fig. 8 is mounted over the type-wheel 32"- and produces the in clear text copy of the message being typed. Type-wheel 32 provides means for typing the address in clear text at the outset on the tape on which the cypher form of themessage is to be produced, a suitable stopping and retaining member being fitted on frame I to hold movable carriage 3 in its rear position while doing so which is released by pulling over the hand lever I3 to bring the carriage back. When cyphering is proceeding, movable carriage 3 moves away from the operator and is returned by him at the end of its travel.

In operation paper tape is inserted through suitable guides on both stationary carriage and movable carriage 3 so that it passes on the under side of the ink ribbon and is engaged by the paper feed-control 6 (Fig. 1) which comprises suitable rollers 6 I5 extending along the necessary length of the machine. Rocker-frame 26 is in the lowered position as shown in Fig. l and the wheel 31 is out of gear with the wheel 39 but in gear with the wheel 39 when movable carriage 3 is at the extreme end of its travel away from the operator, suitable release means, such as a tripping lever I3 normally holding the rockerframe in its raised position, when struck by the movable carriage at the end of its forward travel, achieving this. The above action is clearly shown in Fig. 9 in which the catch lock or tripping lever |3 is pivoted at 92 and has a tail piece 9| pivoted to a connecting lever 90. 98 is a toggle having a recessed part 93 to engage catch lock I 3. 95 is the pivot of upper part of the toggle and 91 is the pivot of lower part of toggle. 98 is a projecting pin on rocker-frame 26 and 99 is a connecting lever between lowertoggle and a lifting cam |0I pivoted to the fingerpl'ate I3. I00 is a projection on lower toggle and I02 a projection on rocker-frame 26. I04 are bearings, and I05 is a roller fixed to movable carriage 3.

When the carriage is moved to the rear of the machine the roller I05 strikes the toggle 96 at the part 94 lifts rocker-frame 26 and upper part I03 and 93 of toggle 96 is forced under catch lock I3 and held in position. The movable carriage 3 may then be moved toward the front of the machine while the rocker-frame 26 is held in the rased 26, thus dropping rocker-frame on bearings I03 and I94. When the rocker-frame 28 is in the above stated positio-n scatter wheels 39 are out of engagement with intermediate wheels 34, intermediate wheels 31 are out of engagement with revolving rack gear wheels 39 and travelling selecior wheel 36 is in engagement with an intermediate wheel 34. This is effected by the downward movement of the left hand side of the rocker-frame 26 owing to its pivoted action on the shaft 22. Gear wheel 55 at the rear end of the machine is also in engagement with the set'ing dial gear wheel 64*- and gear wheel 55 is out of engagement with setting dial gear, 64. With parts in this position the carriag 3 should be at the rear away from the operator, to allow setting at both ends to be made, the scatter wheels 39 are arranged in a definite order by operating shaft 24 through knob 59 as follows:---- the dogs 42 on shaft 24 and internal gears 4| in each group of six scatter wheels are so arranged that progressive engagement of dogs 42 in internal gears is assured. Starting from the rear end of the machine, the first dog 42 on shaft 24 is always in engagement with its internal gear but when knob 59" is in its inner position, shown in Fig. 5, all other dogs 42 are out of en-. gagement with their respective internal gears 4|. As knob 59 is moved outwards-by the sliding Ofk shaft 24, the engagement of dogs 42 with the gears 4| is progressively made and retained. At this time, gear wheel 55 is in engagement with a setting dial gear wheel 64 so that in the first position the first setting dial is moved when knob 59 is revolved and the first group of scatter wheels 39 are set to a definite position. As shaft 24 is drawn forward by the revolution of the shaft 58, operated by the handle 58, the second group of scatter wheels is engaged by its dog 42 the first group being also held by its own dog 42. Gear wheel 55 however has moved out of engagement with the first setting dial gear wheel 64 and has engaged with the second setting dial 7 gear wheel 64 and so on. This arrangement ensures that in a five-letter setting, a change of only one letter alters the relative position of all five blocks of scatter wheels 39 and yet leaves the dials set up correctly for reference and checking. At the conclusion of th s setting operation, shaft 24 is moved further outwardly till gear wheel moves clear or beyond the line of the last setting dial gear wheel 64*, so that shaft 24 is free to rotate during the operation of the machine without interfering with setting dials 63 When the rocker-frame 26 is raised to bring the wheels 39 into geared engagement with the wheels 32 and 2'! the wheel 55 is brought into position with the first wheel 63 and the lifting of the frame 26 frees the wheels 55 from the gears 65*, so that the setting operation can be wards the operator the carriage strikes tripping 1 means I3 which action releases catch lock l3 to-free rocker-frame 26 which drops and puts scatter-wheels 39 out of engagement and the driving train is broken by the gears 82 and 85 65 can be operated. The effect of this setting is to predetermine the arrangement of teeth along the line of scatter wheels that will come into engagement with the gears of the type-wheels when movable carriage 3 is returned to the front of the machine, and as each scatter wheel has a different number of teeth differently spaced, the result of this setting is highly efiective. Each group of six scattefwheels is fitted with one full toothed wheel 87, Fig. 5 which does not engage with any of the above-mentioned intermediaries, but which is provided with a spring pressed detent anchored on the machine frame. This is for the purpose of ensuring initial definite registration of position when dogs 32 are not engaging internal gears I. Setting dials 33 are adapted to be concealed and locked away from view and the locking member used for this purpose can be designed to lock setting dials 63- against movement when locked from view. I refer to this setting as the zero setting of the machine. It will be pre-arranged between operating parties, itneed not be disclosed to the recipient in a cyphered message and frequent change is unnecessary. v

Actuating lever. I3 not only serves as handle to be utilized in returning movable carriage 3 to the front of the machine but it is also so pivotally attached to movable carriage 3 and provided with thumb plate I3 that in pressing the latter during the pull over of the lever I3 it unlocks the catch look I 3 which locks movable carriage 3 when at the rear end of the machine, but before this occurs the initial pull over of the lever I3 lifts rocker-frame 25 to cause scatter wheels 33 and intermediate wheels 371 respectively to engage in'intermediate wheels 33 and rack gear wheels 30 and at the same time disengages travelling selector wheel 36 from an intermediate wheel 38, the arrangement ofwheels 39, 3t and 31, 33 is ensured before the carriage is free to move.

As movable carriage 3 is drawn to the front of the machine, chain (Fig. 4) operates sprocket wheel I8 and the gears 83, 86 and and so drives full toothed wheel 82 which in turn revolves scatter wheel and, through intermediates 34, type-wheels 32 and, through intermediates 31 and 30 the escapement rack wheels 21. This creates a fresh distribution of type-wheels 32and rack wheels 21, and as rackmheels 27 are fitted with gaps 29 which allow movable carriage 3 to jump or disregard some of the type-wheels 32 in typing, it will be seen that scatter wheels 39 re-act directly and through other members in producing the cypher and they are adapted to re-act simultaneously in several different ways.

When movable carriage 3 reaches the obstruct on to its forward travel, which'may be either a fixed or a movable point, and before the gear engagements described are released the setting dials 53 (Fig.2) are set to a key-word in a similar manner to that described for setting up the zero setting, gear wheel 55 being new in position to engage gear" wheel 64 of the setting dials As this setting is effected .when scatter word, knob to is drawn out until gear wheel 55 is clear of the lastsetting dial, the freeing of the gear wheel 64 again allowing shaft 23 to revolve without interfering with the message setting dials 63. Rocker-frame 26 is then released to fall out of engagement by operating 'a finger plate I3 which controls the catch device I3 from the front of the machine and typing proceeds. At the end of return movement of the movable carriage to the front of the machine, a re-enga-gement of scatter wheels and inter-acting members is effected and rack wheels 2'I and type-wheels 32 are re-arranged automatically.

It will be seen that shaft 24 is revolved by hand on two occasions and that these movements are positively registered on setting dials 63 and 53. It is also revolved by the return of movable carriage 3 without disturbing setting dials 63, 63

and gear wheel 55 at these times is always free' which now remains stationary to that which set up the respective settings. To decypher a message, the predetermined zero setting is left on the machine and the message setting or key-word indicated in clear type or text is set up before decyphering by typing commences. When this is done a copy of ,the cypher to be decyphered is typedon the tape fitted to the fixed carriage and the decyphered version is typed on the tape fitted to movable carriage 3.

Rack wheels 21 co-act with pawl I t to govern the travel of movable carriage 3 over type wheels 32. Fig 1 shows a method of operation which involves rotating shaft I9 to obtain a slidable release of fixed pawl It, but there are other means of obtaining the desired results to ensure a progression of movable carriage 3 by means of a secondary member or members actuated by scatter wheels 39. Fixed pawl I4 is fitted to moving carriage 3 and is adapted to engage a tooth 28 in one position of shaft I9 and to slide through space 28 when shaft I9 is released by pawl Tl (Fig. 2) to revolve. Rack wheels 21 are fitted on shaft I3 so that along the line traversed by pawl IQ, the teeth 28. and spaces 28 are staggered, thus insuring that space 28 in one wheel is in line with a tooth 28 of the wheel next to it, except where a gap 29 occurs. As in this instance, shaft I3 revolves during typing, it is necessary that it be fitted at one end with an indicating dial'and arrow 90 shown in Fig. 7 so that its starting position can be returned to with accuracy after the machine has beenzeroized asprevicusly described. Shaft I3 does not-revolve when scatter wheels 39 operate but rack wheels 21 revolve on shaft I9 when this occurs. Shaft I9 is slotted along its length and is fitted with a keyed locking member 3 I which is suitably released to permit rack wheels 21 to rotate and is locked before intermediate wheel 31 goes out of engagement with gear wheels 30. Eitheractuating lever I3 or a suitable member fitted to, moving carriage 3 can effect this released movement and the locking position can be re-established by a suitable spring fitted to shaft l9 and a projection of locking bar 3|.

Type wheels 32 with their gears 33 are free to turn on shaft 26, but are each held in a registered position thereon by their continuous and unbroken engagement with intermediate wheel 34 which is positively registered by engaging pawl 35 fitted to shaft 2|. Engaging pawl 35 is fitted with two releasing levers 35 35 Releasing lever 36*- releases engaging pawl 35, when three-faced cams 46 engage it as they do when scatter wheel 39 lifts into engagement with intermediate wheel 34. The faces of cams 46 are so arranged that engaging pawl 35 is only released when a tooth of seatter wheel 39 is engaged with a tooth of intermediate wheel 34 and is re-engaged immediately this tooth engagement is broken by the provision of a blank space on scatter wheel,- 39. Releasing lever 35 releases engaging pawl 35 when lug |6 of moving carriage 3 impinges on it as the carriage comes to rest at each stop in its progressive travel above the type-wheels. This allows typewheels 32 to be revolved by travelling selector wheel 36 which is slidably mounted on the shaft and is engaged by the lug I6 on the carriage, so that it is fed into engagement with successive wheels 34 as the carriage moves to the rear of the machine. As the lug l6 moves with moving carriage 3, it re-engages one engaging pawl and releases the next and so on. In typing, the

principle known as selective revolution of the type shuttle is employed, the letter selected being brought to the top or under the hammer by the impulse of the key and this is achieved by the cam lever 45 causing spiral member 5| to revolve, the cam-faces 41 being adapted to govern the amount and direction of travel of common rod 46 which in turn similarly governs the movement of slotted block 56 which revolves spiral member 5|. Spiral member 5| is fitted with gear wheel 52 which engages gear wheel 33 of typewheel 32. This is the only type-wheel which is directly gearedto key levers 45. Square shaft 25 projects'through the front of the machine, and is fitted with gear wheel 88, Fig. 2, which is adapted to engage and disengage with gear wheel 52 as rocker-frame 26 movestocarry its-members .to

engagement and dis-engagement, the gear wheels;

66, 52 being inter-engaged during typing. It is by this means that the selective revolution originating in the-depression of a key or cam lever 45 is transmitted to travelling selector wheel 36 and thus to type-wheels 32, 32

To set the code and print it is necessary that the parts of the apparatus should be in the disengaged condition shown in Fig. 1 in which the rocker-frame 26 is lowered, the scatter-wheels 39 are out of gear with the wheels 34 and the wheels 31 are out of gear with the wheels 36, but the travelling selector wheel 36 engages a wheel 34, the wheel 31 however is always in gear with a wheel 39, and the carriage 3 is at the front of the machine. The type-wheels 32 being mounted freely are turned by the operator so that letters thereon are set at the will of the operator who then proceeds to set up the pre-determined keyword on the setting dials 63 by gear wheel engaging progressively setting dial gear wheels 64 during which the scatter-wheels 39 are arranged in definite order by turning knob 59 and handle 68 to cause the dogs 42 and internal gears 4| to engage the wheels 39 successively starting from the first dog 42 which is always engaged with its internal .gear 4|. With the knob .in its inner position, as seen in Fig. 5 all theother dogs 42 and gears 4| are out of engagement; when however the slidable shaft 24 is drawn outwards the remaining dogs 42 andgears 4| of the groups are progressively engaged for at that position the wheel 55 is engaging setting dial gear wheel 64 so that as in the case of the first setting dial the setting dial of the wheel 64 is revolved and the first group of wheels 39 are set. Shaft 24 is then 5 further operated until the whole of the scatterwheel groups have been set and the wheel 55 is moved out of engagement with the last setting dial gear wheel 64*- leaving the shaft 24 unclutched and free to revolve during typing without interfering with the setting dials 63*. This set- /ting determines what teeth of the line of scatterwheels 39 will engage through the intermediaries the type-wheel gears 33 before the carriage 3 is returned to the front of the machine and before this takes place the setting dials 63 are also set to a key-word by gear wheel 55 engaging wheel 64. When the scatter-wheels 39 are set, actuating hand lever I3 is operated to lift rocker-frame and bring the scatter-wheels 39 ands wheels 31 into 20 engagement with the wheels 34 and 36 and disen-. gage wheel 36 from wheel 34, the wheels 39, 34 and 31, 36 being engaged ensures transmission of the scattering drive to the type-wheels and rack wheels when the carriage 3 is returned to the 25 front of the machine against the pull of the chain 86 which puts the spring driven drum 8| into tension and is held in restraint by the pawl |4 engaging a tooth of rack wheel 21, the spring driven shaft l9 being controlled by ratchet 16 and 11 33 to release the pawl M at the proper time.

The typing movement of the carriage 3 is a step-by-step one and is effected by striking the keys of the key levers 45 to actuate the common bar 46 which oscillates the member 48 to cause 35 block 56 to travel the spiral member 5| and so revolve wheel 52 to drive. the wheel 33 of the type-wheel 32 simultaneously the key action causes the bar 46 to lift the rod 14 by releasing the trip lever 16, cam 16 on cam rod 14 then oscillates pawl 11 which releases ratchet wheel 16 on shaft l9 to free pawl I4, the release of the cam 61 actuates the printing hammer 4 to strike the ribbon over the type-wheels.

The trip and cam actions are restored by the springs 12 and 68 on the fail of the rod 14.

On 'the return of the carriage 3 shaft 19 is revolved and drives the wheels 63, 84 and 85 and the wheel 82, on the shaft 24, to scatter or redistribute the ty-pewheels 32, and when the wheels 39 lift into engagement with the wheels 34 the cams 46 operate lever 35 to release the pawl 35 so that the wheels 34 and 32 are free to move. Lever 35 is operated by the lug l8, on the carriage 3. which feeds the selector wheel 36 into engage ment with the wheels 34 to release pawl 35 during the feed movement with wheels 39 disengaged so that typewheels can be set by the travelling pinion 36.

The setting or key-word at the front is put on the dials when the rocker-frame 26 is in the raised position and scatter drive wheel 82 is put out of gear with the pinion 65, ,the clutch giving the necessary free action as no setting could be put on without a de-clutching action to break 65 the train of wheels to the carriage 3.

In Fig. 4 it'will be seen that the pinion 66 is in gear with the wheel 82 and that the shaft 24 is out of gear with the back setting dials 63*. This is done as follows:After setting up the 5th dial 70 the scatter shaft 24 is moved to the position seen in the figure by the movement of the arm or lever 66'. which in turn slides the pinion 65 into engag'ement with the wheel 82, thereby completing the driving train with the carriage 3. This train is automatically broken at the end of each scattering operation since the scatter shaft 24 and gear with other parts lower thus allowing sliding pinion 85 and bevel pinion 8 5 to revolve idly as carriage progresses in typing; when carriage 3 reaches its rearmost position, at the end of feed direction, and scatter mechanism is again engaged, the train is again complete.

The effect of the key-board action is to produc a typed copy of the message sent and a cypher or code of it consisting of a line of scrambled letters given by the type-wheels, which obviously convey no meaning until decyphered which is done by the recipient on a like machine set to the same key-word, striking keys which give the letters of the cypher or code when the message in clear is reproduced, as the same letters are reproduced as were used in typing the uncoded message. J

Type-wheels 32, 32 32 are shown in the form that they would take in a machine designed to control vowel frequencies, each wheel being fitted with two circles of letters, one containing the flve vowels repeated four times and the other twenty consonants. The movements necessary to ensure that the hammers strike on the correct bands is a simple shift movement analogous to that which ensures that capitals or numbers are struck on a typewriter. Nor do I wish to be restricted to the actual mechanical elements shown and described as I may employ others of equivalent nature to give effect in concrete form to the underlying features of the invention. 1

The are of revolution between the toothed and gapped gears is such as to avoid lost motion and the pitch relationship of the teeth of the gear wheels of the machine, controlling the action of the type-wheels, is of prime importance, and in addition to pitch relationship between the teeth the relative circumferences of engaging wheels must be such as to produce correct functioning between the type-wheels, scatter wheels and the revolving rack wheels. In Fig. 7 it is to be noted that the knob 59 is carried on a shaft 24 separate to that shown in Fig. 5. This enables a gear wheel to be employed at both ends of the shaftv 2% so as to engage key or message setting dials provided at each end, but as the shaft 26 is gearedv with the shaft 26 the action is'the same as directly turning shaft 25.

The letter grouping of a message is effected by increasing at intervals the extent of the feed of'the paper strip by a device which comprises in the case of a ten letter group, a ten toothed ratchet wheel, the centre portion thereof having one tooth of the ten of higher formation than the ten teeth on the outside parts, the teeth of which are of uniform height. The ratchet wheel is carried on the shaft H by a bearing sleeve on which it revolves. One end of the paper feed lever l0 rides over the ratchet wheel and that end is movable laterallyinto two positions and can either engage the uniformly toothed parts, or the high toothed tooth part when cyphering to form ten letter groups. The other end of the lever in has a pawl i2 engaging the paper feed ratchet 6 which is on the spindle of the paper feed control. In the case of a five letter group two high teeth may be employed. It will be understood that in these arrangements the feeding of the strip by the cam 5 is superseded.

The kind of sheet employed is paper strip and the letters would appear in clear text and in cypher.

The carriage 3 is returned against the pull of the chain 80 which puts the spring driven drum 8| into tension and is held in restraint by the pawl l8 engaging a tooth of rack wheel 21, the spring driven shaft I 9 being controlled by ratchet l8 and pawl 77. 5 The feed or typing movement of the carriage 3 is a step-by-step one effected by the key levers 215 which when operated actuate the common bar 66 to oscillate the member 48 to cause block 59 to travel the spiral member 5! and so revolve gear Wheel 52 to drive the wheel 33 of the type-wheel 32 simultaneously the key action causes the bar 66 to lift the rod M by releasing the trip lever 1p, cam 16 on cam rod M then oscillates pawl ll which releases ratchet wheel 78 on shaft 19, which as before stated is spring driven by a hand wound spring on the shaft, the release of the cam 67 actuates the hammer d to strike the ribbon over the type-Wheels.

The trip and cam actions are restored by the 20 springs 12 and 68 on the fall of the rod 14.

On the return of the carriage 3 shaft i9 is revolved and drives the wheels 83, 8d and 85 and the wheel 82, on the shaft 2 5, to cause a scatter or re-distribution of the parts, and when the wheels 39 lift into engagement with the wheels 38 the cams 46 release lever 35 of the engaging pawl 35 and the lever 35' is. released by lug E8, on

the carriage 3, which feeds the selector wheel 36 into engagement with the wheels 35 during the feed movement.

The setting or key-word at the front is put on the dials when the rocker-frame 26 is in the raised position and scatter drive wheel 82 is in gear with the pinion 85, the clutch giving the necessary free action as no setting could be put on without a de-clutching action to break the train of wheels to the carriage 3.

In Fig. 11 it will be seen that the pinion 85 is in ear with the wheel 82 and that the shaft 2 3 is out of-gear with the back setting dials $3. This is done as follows:After setting up the 5th dial the scatter shaft 26 is moved to the position seen in the figure by the movement of the arm or lever 86' which in turn slides the pinion 85 into engagement with the wheel 82, thereby completing the driving train from thecarriage 3. This train is automatically adjusted at the end of each scatter since the scatter shaft and gear with other parts falls away thus allowing sliding 50 pinion 85 and bevel pinion M to revolve idly as carriage progresses in typing, when carriage 3 reaches rearmost position, at the end of feed direction, and scatter mechanism is engaged again, the train is again complete. 55

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is: I

1. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, aligned typewheels rotatable and mechanically-operated mounted on a shaft on the frame, a gear wheel mounted with each type-wheel, a series of'scattor-wheels with irregularly spaced teeth mounted on a slidable shaft and adapted to be put in and out of operative relation with the type-wheels, means for putting the scatter-wheels in and out of relation with the type-wheels, a movable carriage with printing mechanism to print on the movement from the operator of the carriage over the type-wheels, scatter-wheel actuating means operating after typing on the return movement of the carriage, means to cause said carriage to move over the type-wheels and the printing mechanism to print the message, a selector wheel, mounted on an oscillatory shaft in parallel relation with the shaft'of the type-wheels, to engage successive type-wheels and set them to typing position, a key-board mechanism at the front of the apparatus, means connecting the oscillatory shaft with the key-board mechanism, a gear Wheel upon the selector wheel shaft to rotate it under the action of depressing the keys of the key-board, a series of geared rack and gear wheels, rotatably mounted and arranged to transmit the drive of the scatter-wheels to the rack wheels and type-wheels so that on the return movement of the movable carriage to the front of the operator the type-wheels and rack wheels are scattered.

2. Apparatus for codingand decoding, comprising in combination a frame, a series of axially aligned mechanically-operated rotatably mounted type-wheels, a gear wheel at the side of each type-wheel, a movable carriage, printing mechanism on the movable carriage for typing the cypher message supported and guided on the frame, means to move said carriage over the typewheels, a selector wheel brought into active relation successively with the gears of the series of type-wheels, means for operating, through the keys of a keyboard the selector wheel to cause it to engage a type-wheel during typing, scatter-- wheels arranged to be brought into operative relation with the type-wheels after typing, a system of gear wheels between the scatter-wheels and type-wheels to put them into operative relation, and means acting on the return movement of the carriage to the operator to operate the scatterwheels so that the type-wheels are caused to be scattered, and key-operated lever mechanismin connective relation with the printing mechanism.

3. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising a frame, axially arranged mechanicallyoperated and rotatably mounted type-wheels, a gear wheel mounted with each type-wheel, a movable carriage with printing means for-printing the cypher message supported and guided on the frame, means for causing saidcarriage to move over the type-wheels, a selector wheel mounted on an oscillatory shaft and means on the movable carriage to bring the selector wheel on the feed movement of the carriage into operative relation with the gears of the type-wheels to set the typewheels in typing position.

4. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a main frame, rotatable mechanically operated aligned type-wheels, mounted on a shaft'on @e frame, a movable carriage with printing mechanism mounted and guided on the frame, operable means to cause the carriage to move over the type-wheels, operable means to cause the printing mechanism to print the message as the carriage moves over the type-wheels, revolving rack wheels rotatably mounted on the frame and having substantial gaps on their peripheries, a controlling pawl on the carriage, gear wheels at the side of the rack wheels which are out of engagement during typ ing, a rocker-frame pivotally supported by the main frame and held in a lowered position during typing d carrying scatter-wheels with irregularly gapped teeth to engage gearsmeshing with the gears of the rack wheels, the scatter-wheels being mounted upon the rocker-frame'to engage with gears arranged between the type-wheels and rack wheels to cause a redistribution of the typewheels and rack wheels, after typing, during the return movement of the carriage.

- and movable carriage, actuating 5-. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a main frame, mechanirack wheels to rotate the latter, after typing, a

system of gear wheels between the type-wheels and scatter-wheels to cause a redistribution of the letters on the type-wheels, means for setting the type-wheels according to a pre-arranged keyword, comprising dial means arranged to be put in operative relation with gear wheels on the scatter-wheels shaft while said gears engage the type-wheels for setting up such per-arranged key-word.

6. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising a frame, a series of axially aligned rotatable mechanically-operated type-wheels mounted on the frame, means for rotating said wheels, a plurality of carriages with printing mechanism, one movable over the type-wheels and one stationary, each provided with paper feed-control means, ink ribbon feed-control means and an impression hammer, key-operated mechanism imparting movement to the hammer during typing, means in chain form spring urged operatively arranged with the movable carriage to impart motion to it during typing, means to control the operation of each impression hammer during printing, and a plurality of type-wheels operatively arranged at the front of the apparatus with the stationary carriage to type the plain text.

7. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, a series of axially aligned type-wheels on the frame mechanically operable, a plurality of printing carriages, one movable over the. type-wheels to print the cypher message and one stationary to print the plain text, means to cause the movable carriage to move over the type-wheels during typing, paper feed and printing mechanism upon the carriages, means to actuate the printing mechanism and ratchet and pawl means for controlling the paper and ribbon feeds on the carriages.

8. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, axially aligned rotatably mounted mechanically-operated typewheels, a plurality of printing carriages, printing mechanism on the carriages, one carriage movable over the type-wheels, means for causing the said carriage to move from the operator over the type-wheels, the other carriage being sta tionary, key-operable means for causing the ac-, tuation and controlling of the printing operation of both carriages, and a plurality of typewheels at the front of the machine, one with vowels only and one with consonants only.

9. Apparatus for coding and decoding, com-' prising in combination a frame, mechanicallyoperated type-wheels with gears, rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft on the frame, a movfable, printing carriage, printing mechanism on over the type-wheels, scatter wheels carried on a rocker-frame adapted to be lifted into operative relation by geared connection with the typewheels after typing, a system of engaging pawls and releasing levers between the scatter-wheels hand lever means upon the movable carriage to return it to release the engaging pawls and scatter the type-wheels, a travelling selector wheel mounted and slidable on a shaft on the frame, when the rocker-frame is lowered, engaging to rotate the gears of the type-wheels as required by the cypher message, a gear wheel uponthe selector wheel shaft to control its selective revolution when operated through a key, and a trip mechanism interposed between the shaft of the printing mechanism and the key levers of a key-board for operating the said shaft during typing.

10. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, type-wheels rotatably mounted on a shaft on the frame, a system of rack wheels mounted on the frame, a gear wheel at the side of each rack wheel, a movable carriage with printing mechanism key-operated, and chain means connected to the carriage spring urged to cause said carriage to move over the type-wheels during printing, scatter-wheels mounted on a slidable shaft on another frame and adapted by gears to be brought into operative relation with the gears of the rack wheels and through intermediate gears with the gears of the type-wheels after typing to scatter the typewheels, each scatter-wheel ,having irregularly spaced groups of teeth different to its neighbour, to vary the scatter, a system of gears forming said intermediate gears between the type-wheels and scatter-wheels, three-faced cams on the scatter-wheels to co-act with releasing levers controlling the action of pawls, normally holding said intermediate gears during typing, and adapted to release same when operated by the return movement of the carriage, full internal gears, fixed to the scatter-wheels, to hold the scatterwheels stationary on the scatter wheel shaft, and dogs on the scatter-wheels shaft to hold the internal gears in fixed position and thereby the scatter-wheels when the dogs are moved into fixed position by manually sliding the said shaft.

11. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, rotatable mechanically-operated type-wheels mounted on a shaft on the frame, a key-board operatively connected with the mechanism controlling the printing by the type-wheels, a movable carriage with printing mechanism, rack and pawl means to control and chain means to draw the said carriage over the type-wheels progressively, a stationary carriage with printing mechanism at the front of the apparatus, a pivoted oscillating memher in operative relation with the key-board, a slotted block upon the oscillating member, a spiral member upon which the said block moves to rotate the spiral member, a gear wheel carried by the spiral member to engage a gear wheel connected with a type-wheel at the front of the apparatus, and a system of key levers, each of which, when depressed, actuates the pivoted member to transmit motion to the spiral member to cause rotation of the type-wheel.

12. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, rotatable mechemically-operated type-wheels axially mounted on the frame, a gear wheel at the side of each type-wheel, a movable carriage 'with printing means and actuating means to move the carriage over the type-wheels, revolving 'rack wheels mounted on the frame, gears at the side of each rack wheel, a pawl arranged on the carriage to operatively control ;the carriage movement over the type-wheels progressively for printing the message, scatter-wheels mounted on a shaft carried on a rocker-frame and arranged to be brought by gear wheels into operative relation through intermediate gears with the gear wheels of the type-wheels when the rocker-frame is lifted at the movement of the carriage to the front of the machine after typing, message setting means one at each end of the apparatus,

comprising dials mounted on a shaft in parallel relation with the shaft of the scatter-wheels, a gear wheel located at the side of each dial and a 10 gear wheel on the scatter-wheel shaft to engage the gears of the dials when the scatter wheel shaft is moved longitudinally to make the message setting. I

13. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, a rotatable system of mechanically-operated type-wheels on a shaft on the frame, a movable carriage with printing mechanism, means operating the printing mechanism, ineans to move the carriage over the type-wheels, a system of scatter-wheels and gear wheels to connect with and scatter the typewheels on the return movement of the carriage; revolving rack wheels mounted on a shaft on the frame, pawl mechanism on the movable carriage adapted to be brought into operative connection with the rack wheels, pawl and ratchet mechanism to control the rotation of the revolving rack wheels by first holding and then releasing same for the movement of the printing carriage during L typing, and a key-board with key levers to operate the mechanism controlling the prlnting mechanism and the movement of the carriage over t type-wheels. h

14. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, rotatable mechanically-operated type-wheels with gears mounted on a shaft on the frame, a movable carriage with printing mechanism, means to actuate said mechanism, means to move said carriage over the type-wheels for printing the message, a system of scatter-wheels with gears wheels to be brought into operative relation with intermediate wheels gearing with the gear wheels of the typewheels after typing to rotate the type-wheels to change round the type on each wheel in relation with that on the next wheel, a system of pawls with releasing levers and co-acting three-faced cams on the scatter-wheels, and manually actuated means upon the carriage to cause scattering by the return movement of the carriage when the gears of the respective sets of wheels have been brought into engagement. 7

,15. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, rotatable typewheels mounted on a shaft on the frame, a carriage with printing mechanism, means for moving the carriage over the type-wheels, means for actuating the printing mechanism, a system of scatter-wheels, rack wheels and ratchet means, a c0 pawl device controlling the movement of the carriage during p nting, a system of gear wheels between the catter-rack and type-wheel's arranged to engage when scatter-wheels are brought into relation with the type-wheels, a system of c; pawls, cams and releasing levers, arranged between the gears of the type-wheels and scatterwheels, so that on the return movement of the carriage the type-wheels are scattered, and a hand actuated,- lever mounted on the carriage to set 7 the carriage ready for typing and to bring the carriage back to the front of the apparatus after typing. p

16. Appparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a main frame. rotatable mechanically-operated type-wheels with gears on a shaft on the frame, a carriage with printing mechanism movable over the type-wheels, means causing the carriage to move over the type-wheels, scatter-wheels with gears arranged on a shaft on a rocker-frame and adapted to be brought into operative relation with the gears of the typewheels through intermediate gears on the return movement of the carriage, after typing, revolving rack wheels provided with gaps to allow the carriage to jump or miss some of the type-wheels in typing, means actuating the printing mechanism, a key-board with trip lever system, and connecting means between the lever system and the means actuating the printing mechanism.

1'7. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination, a frame, rotatable mechanically-operated axially mounted type-wheels, a gear wheel at the side of each type-wheel, a carriage with printing mechanism, chain cperatingmeans to move the carriage over the typewheels, a spring motor to urge the chain, means to operate the printing mechanism, revolving rack wheels on a shaft on the frame, scatterwheels with gears adapted to be brought into operative connection with the gears of the typewheels, a system of gear wheels between the scatter and rack wheels, the return movement of the carriage causing scattering of the type-wheels and revolving rack wheels, a controlling pawl on the carriage, a ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft of the revolving rack wheels with co-acting pawl, a cam rod system acting on the pawl to release the ratchet controlling the rack wheels, and a key-board from which the action of the cam rod system is controlled.

18. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising a main frame, a printing carriage with printing mechanism, rotatable mechanicallyoperated type-wheels. with gears on a shaft on the frame, means to move the movable carriage over the type-wheels, revolving rack wheels mounted on a shaft on the frame with gears and operatively connected with the carriage by pawl thereon engaging rack wheel, a hand operated control lever on the carriage to release the carriage, scatter-wheels with gears on a shaft on a rocker-frame adapted to be brought into engagement through intermediate gears with the gears of the type-wheels, a gear wheel of each group of scatter-wheels engaging an intermediate wheel gearing with the gear wheel of a type-wheel to cause scattering of the type-wheels, a system of pawls and pawl levers and cams arranged in relation with thescatter mechanism, the cams operating to release the pawl levers when the carriage is returned to the front of the apparatus.

19. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising a frame, mechanically-operated rotatably mounted type-wheels with gears on a shaft on the frame, a carriage with printing mechanism,

means to move the carriage over the type-wheels, means to operate the printing mechanism, a rack wheel system each wheel with a gear at its side,

a scatter-wheel and gear wheel system to scatter the type-wheels and rack wheels on the return movement of the carriage, rack-wheel and pawl means to control the movement of the carriage overthe type-wheels, a plurality of type-wheels at the front of the apparatus having two circles of type, a stationary carriage with printing mech- 10 anism, and means operatively connecting the printing mechanism with the two type-wheels and with a key-board system to actuate the printing mechanism.

20. Apparatus for coding and decoding, com- 5 prising in combination a main frame, rotatable mechanically-operated type-wheels with gears on a shaft on the frame, a carriage with printing mechanism, a spring motor and chain drive to move the carriage, revolving rack and gear wheels 20 to control the motion imparted by the spring motor and chain drive, means to operate the printing mechanism, a rocker-frame pivoted to the main frame with a system of scatter-wheels thereon for effecting scatter of the type-wheels. 5 a system of gear wheels by which the type-wheel gears engage the scatter-wheels, a system of looking pawls, releasing levers and operating'cams arranged in relation with the scatter-wheel system, a lug upon the carriage to operate the re- 39 leasing pawl lever, a control lever at the front of the apparatus, hand operable, to release the carriage, and a key-board the keys of which are connectively arranged with the carriage printing mechanism. .35

21. Apparatus for coding and decoding, comprising in combination a frame, rotatable mechanically-operated type-wheels with gears on a shaft on the frame, a printing carriage, printing mechanism upon the carriage, means to move 40 the printing carriage progressively over the typewheels and manually operable means to return it, a system'of scatter-wheels with gears on a shaft on a rocker-frame adapted to be brought into operative relation with the type-wheel gears through intermediate gears after typing for redistributing the letters of the type-wheels, means for actuating the printing mechanism, a system of dials on a shaft on the frame for setting up a key-word, a counting device on a shaft on the frame co-ordinated by gears with the setting dials, rack wheel and pawl for holding the carriage stationary, means for moving the carriage over the type-wheels when the carriage is freed by rack and pawl' moving out of engagement, a key-board system at the front of the apparatus with operating key mechanism, and a trip release for operating and controlling the printing 1 mechanism arranged between the key-boardand thecarrlage and operable from the key-board.

MORGAN CYPRIAN McMAHON O'BRIEN. 

